Disinhibited, Antagonistic, and Dysregulated: The Alternative Model of Personality Disorders and In-Person and Cyber Stalking

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Offending and Predicting Offending

Abstract

Emerging research suggests that pathological personality traits as identified in the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) are significant predictors of general aggression (Dunne et al., 2021; Leclerc et al., 2021) and intimate partner violence (Dowgwillo et al., 2016). However, no known study has investigated the relationship of these maladaptive personality traits in the perpetration of stalking and intrusive harassment (SIH). The current study therefore aimed to explore the association between the five AMPD personality domains and in-person and cyber SIH to enhance risk assessment and intervention efforts. A total of 1,629 undergraduate students (74.3% women, 78.1% White) from a Midwestern university completed the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form, Obsessional Relational Intrusion-Short Form and Cyber Obsessional Pursuit. A series of linear regression models revealed that disinhibition and antagonism predicted engagement in in-person SIH, whereas negative affectivity was uniquely associated with cyber SIH perpetration (all ps < .05). These results indicate that maladaptive personality traits are differentially associated with in-person and cyber SIH and contributes to literature supporting the clinical utility of the AMPD in the assessment and prevention of antisocial and violent behaviors (e.g., Dunne et al., 2021). Practical implications and directions for future research will be discussed.

Authors

• Elisha Chan, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Patrick T. McGonigal, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Madeline M. Eyer, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Mario J. Scalora, University of Nebraska - Lincoln